Tartarus V2: D-pad switches failing (4 devices failed in < 1 year) | Razer Insider

Tartarus V2: D-pad switches failing (4 devices failed in < 1 year)

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A
Bought mine a few month ago. D-pad stopped working just now (Right). It's neither a software or electrical probleme as I am pretty sure it is a flaw within the mechanical switch you linked earlier.
Razer used to be the best brand for gamer, and now it is just expensive trash.
I can't get a refund because I forgot where I bought it (my fault, did not expect it to die so soon).
I wouldn't recommand anyone to buy from Razer but there are currently no other gaming pad that I know of.

Edit: I had a Nostromo for 5+ years whitout any probleme. I gave it away for the more recent "tartarus v2", BIGGEST MISTAKE OF MY LIFE.

Edit 2: Always funny to see that the V2 is less expensive than the V1
A
Exact same problem. 2 months of use, dpad forward direction is broken, doesn't click.
T
Signet145
**Update 7/12/18 - 3rd device just failed with same issue (d-pad button). See my new post below for the details.**

Hi - I'm not certain if this is the right place to post this, but I'm hoping to bring attention to a quality control issue on the new Tartarus V2 Chroma d-pad switches in the hopes that it will get fixed in a new revision of the product.

TLDR: the d-pad micro-switches are failing way too fast (~1-2 months of use).

After a bit of research, I'm 99% certain I found the switches that are being used (http://www.kailh.com/en/Products/MS/MN/389.html), which claim to be rated for 3 million clicks. There are 4 of these switches (one for each direction on the d-pad) on a little daughter board inside the device.


  • First Failure (JAN '18 - mid FEB '18, ~1.5 months) - the "right / east" d-pad button fails. Switch starts to stick in-game and loses it "clicky" sound. Received a replacement device in early MAR '18
  • Second Failure (MAR '18 - mid APR '18, ~1.5 months) - this time, the "down / south" d-pad button failed, but in the exact same way. The microswitch just physically dies and stops 'clicking'. You can see a video I uploaded to the support team below to see / hear what I mean. Received replacement device near end of APR '18, early MAY '18.
  • Third Failure (MAY '18 - mid JUL '18, ~2.5 months) - same failure, this time back to the "right / east" d-pad button. Going through RMA process, yet again...and hoping to find a way to bring this to an actual product designer / engineer's attention to see if they can improve switches or product design.


()

I use the d-pad as my main movement keys in games, replacing my WASD...so they do get a lot of continuous use. That said, I've always played this way and my previous Tartarus / Nostromo devices have never had this issue. I've been using these gamepads for over a decade, since the original Belkin days and have owned ~9-10. I was super excited when Razer announced the new Tartarus V2, especially since it went back to the old d-pad style instead of the single "cylinder" approach, which isn't as accurate for movement. I actually love this new device, but I'm afraid the switches they chose for the d-pad...or perhaps the design itself...needs to be looked at a.s.a.p. for failure modes. I've had two fail, in the same way, in under 4 months...and have never had a single previous device fail in over a decade's worth of use.

*edit: cleaned up YouTube link*
*edit #2: added details of 3rd failure (7/14/18)


I have had two failures thus far. Same exact problem, same exact part. The problem is 100% the design of the Tartarus v2. I worked in the Navy repairing PCB for 4 years. Our two highest failing components were diodes and micro switches. The biggest design flaw with this product is the way the direction pad strikes the micro switches at a slight angle causing the switch to travel under pressure in an abnormal direction which is not how these switches we're originally designed to function; they are ment to be pushed straight down.

Until an engineer or someone from Razer EXPLICITLY states that this issue has been fixed, I would steer clear of this product. I think I will dust off my N52te after this.
B
well my wife has brought the razer tartarus v2 for xmas and im gunna tell her to send it back today cause this has just disapointed me dearly she is not gunna be happy, i was really loving the idea of those extra keys as from my N52te well,

ay has anyone tried switching the PCB from the N52te putting it into the razer tartarus v2
L
Userlevel 5
bloodevil991
well my wife has brought the razer tartarus v2 for xmas and im gunna tell her to send it back today cause this has just disapointed me dearly she is not gunna be happy, i was really loving the idea of those extra keys as from my N52te well,

ay has anyone tried switching the PCB from the N52te putting it into the razer tartarus v2


No, but my advice: send it back and get Orbweaver. Its the only keypad device beside the Tartarus, and it works for me with Synapse2. I'm not exited by Razers software competence, also not their hardware (Tartarus thumbstick breaks within few month, etc), but it's the only solution actual if playing with a keypad.
Orbweaver is "loud", I took some O-rings to decrease noise.
B
Orbweaver yeah never gunna happen i hate machenical and i also hate the crappy price tag extra £40 for less keys soem how i dont think so
BIGGRIMTIM
Mine failed on Friday Nov 2nd. I contacted support but I am still waiting for assistance. For those who have received replacement devices does Razer pay the shipping or will I have to cover it? I am pretty disappointed with the quality of these new devices. My original Belkin Nostromo N52 is still working after all these years. I wish they would go back to the older style d-pad.
BIGGRIMTIM
After reading through this thread I was able to speak with Amazon customer service and I was able to get a refund and replacement. Still no response from Razer support.
L
Userlevel 5
BIGGRIMTIM
After reading through this thread I was able to speak with Amazon customer service and I was able to get e refund and replacement. Still no response from Razer support.

Yes ! @mltan doesn't care about things happening in his company. Party is more important, as longs as it can go on ! No comment, no official statement. Leaves everything to staff that cannot react.
So sad !!! Failing CEO !
S
Userlevel 2
11/14/2018: Well - unfortunately I'm back to post about my 4th failed device. Same exact failure as my previous three (d-pad, "right" button failed). I'll update my first post with all of the annoying details....
L
Userlevel 5
Signet145
11/14/2018: Well - unfortunately I'm back to post about my 4th failed device. Same exact failure as my previous three (d-pad, "right" button failed). I'll update my first post with all of the annoying details....


Yes, as I already said, none cares ! @mltan doesn't care about things happening in his company. Party is more important, as longs as it can go on ! No comment, no official statement. Leaves everything to staff that cannot react.
So sad !!! Failing CEO !

Don't buy Razer products today ! Sry, but they don't wake up !
S
Userlevel 2
I just spent last ~hour on a Live Chat with the Razer support team about my latest (4th) failure and somehow things just keeps getting worse. *Apologies in advance...this is a bit of a rant as I'm frustrated at this point....*

Each time (4 in total now), I've gone through this replacement process. The Live Chat or Phone support folks have stated that the only possible way to get a replacement is for me to send them my broken device first, then wait until they have it, and then they'll send me a new one (we're talking weeks without a working product).

I know from the previous 3 times down this path, that there is a process that lets me pay for a new device now and they will ship it now, and refund me once they receive my broken product (much faster way to get a working product in my hands). But, you have to push for it to be escalated to "Tier II' to make this happen, and wait up to 48 hours for someone to email you (so we're talking 1 hour on Live Chat wasted, and now ~2 days waiting for an email).

On my 3rd failed device in July, the "warehouse was out of stock" and it took weeks to get it replaced. Now, on this 4th failure, I'm being told the warehouse is still out of stock, so sounds like I'll be up to a month again without a working product. They offered an option to give me a store credit, so I can buy it directly from the store...BUT...only after I send my broken one back and the receive/process it (again, week+ minimum).

So...here I go again without a working device for who knows how long, and literally NOBODY related to Razer's actual product / engineering / support / community teams even acknowledging this thread with over 3K views on this issue??

Am I posting in the wrong spot here, or do they literally not care about their customers / product quality?
M
i've had exactly the same issue for 3 devices in a row now…

first one got stuck after 2 weeks. i returned it and bought a new one while waiting on my money for the first one.
the second one broke after a month..so i ended up buying a 3th one while getting the money back from the second.

now the third one broke and instead of going through the process again, i've decided to open it up to see what the issue is.... and well... it's obvious that this highly expensive product is made with 0 quality whatsoever when it commes down to the thumbpad.

it's a waist of money and from what i can tell on this forum it becommes clear that this company doesn't care whatsoever.

more than 2 decades worth of knowledge on how to make a functioning keyboard that doesn't break withing a month and razer just decides to take a dump on that knowledge while going ahead with somthing that is basicly designed to break since they would have obviously known this issue if they did any form of quality control.
Q
Honestly, Razer is a joke right now, they're selling sub par products for a fortune because they are pretty much the Apple of gaming hardware.

I was going to move onto Logitech to replace my Tartarus, but they've discontinued their game board, and theirs actually had an analog stick on it instead of a D-pad.

I've considered building my own but I've neither the knowledge nor the resources to make it
I
Q6016848031
Honestly, Razer is a joke right now, they're selling sub par products for a fortune because they are pretty much the Apple of gaming hardware.

I was going to move onto Logitech to replace my Tartarus, but they've discontinued their game board, and theirs actually had an analog stick on it instead of a D-pad.

I've considered building my own but I've neither the knowledge nor the resources to make it

I'm in your situation,
if you find a solution please forward!
V
I was kind of reluctant to start a different thread so I will add my problem here. So far my D-Pad has been functioning, thou I don't really use it, but still the "clicking" sound has become "muted" so I am expecting it to fail soon...from what I 've been reading.

I have however a more "pressing" issue...my number 18 button never properly worked and my number 14 button just yesterday failed to "follow" command. The backlight works perfectly, but the keyboard doesn't send the command when these buttons are pressed.

Has anyone else had this issue?
S
Userlevel 2
Vanatorul.GR
I was kind of reluctant to start a different thread so I will add my problem here. So far my D-Pad has been functioning, thou I don't really use it, but still the "clicking" sound has become "muted" so I am expecting it to fail soon...from what I 've been reading.

I have however a more "pressing" issue...my number 18 button never properly worked and my number 14 button just yesterday failed to "follow" command. The backlight works perfectly, but the keyboard doesn't send the command when these buttons are pressed.

Has anyone else had this issue?

I haven't had any issues with the actual mechanical key switches failing. But, that is most likely because the d-pad microswitches are failing way faster and I'm on my 4th device now, so key switches are fairly fresh. For reference, I use the d-pad as movement, aka w,a,s,d, so they are in constant use with long-presses, like holding 'w' to run, etc.
V
Much appreciate the fast reply. I will take it out to service from the store I purchased it and see what comes up. I hope I won't be in for surprises. Thanks again
T
If you are having an issue like all of use, possibly the best thing you can do is start a new thread and "flood" the forums with the issue. 1 thread is not a good metric, compared to 10.
L
Userlevel 5
And no reaction of Razer Officials ! Selling faulty devices, SHAME !
I
Same problem here... My tartarus broke few minutes ago, meanwhile a match. I'm a little pissed because i bought it just few month ago... I played with G13 more than 10 years without problems... I am very disapointed by Razer products so far. my mice broke fast too. If they would cost 10 € it doesn't matter but they don't....
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